For the past year or so, we've been hearing all sorts of rumors about a possible M-badged variant of the 1-Series. We've also seen many spy videos and photographs of what appeared to be a prototype version of the sports car testing at the Nurburgring circuit. But nothing was official, until now, that is.

In an interview with German webzine "Auto-News", BMW M GmbH's Managing Director Dr. Kay Segler for the first time officially acknowledged the Bavarian automaker's plans to introduce an M-variant of the 1-Series Coupe.

Segler did not give out any specific details on the sports coupe, but he did say that it will not carry the M1 badge as this name is reserved for the original model, adding that the M-prepped 1-Series Coupe will go on sale in relatively small number of copies in the second quarter of 2011.

It remains to be seen what kind of powerplant will motivate the M variant of the 1 coupe, though most bets are on an upgraded version of the 135i's 3.0-liter turbocharged straight six.

*All Photos, including the opening sketch, are of the 2007 BMW 1-Series tii Concept